0.01 Second Sword Master

001 Second Sword Master chapter 186



186

0.01 Second Swordmaster Chapter 186

The Halaz Kingdom.

Under the leadership of the Grand Sorcerer Kelin, they were continuing to develop with the help of the Verak Empire, focusing on building their military strength around a magical battalion.

In the past, when the demon legions appeared, they were at a loss, waiting only for the Empire’s assistance. But now, they had made enough progress to handle a considerable number of demon legions on their own.

Thus, today, the soldiers were on guard, protecting the kingdom from demons that could appear at any moment.

“Hey. Over there…”

“Hmm?”

They tensed at the sight of a giant approaching the castle.

“Who is that?”

“Stop!!”

“This is the castle of the Halaz Kingdom! Reveal your identity!”

At their shouts, the man approaching the castle halted his steps.

The knights of the Halaz Kingdom stepped outside to verify the man’s identity.

“You are…!”

As soon as they saw his face, they recognized who he was.

“Sir, Sir Lailakan, the Grand Knight Commander?!”

“No. What brings you here?”

Lailakan spoke in a weary voice.

“May I enter now?”

“Ah! Yes. Quickly, let him in!”

His body was covered in wounds, and his armor was tattered.

He staggered, barely managing to pass through the castle gates.

Had the soldiers not supported him, he might have collapsed halfway.

“Just how terrible was the battle you fought…”

“I heard the Empire has been making various efforts to locate the Grand Knight Commander.”

“Where have you been all this time?”

Lailakan did not respond to their questions, as if he lacked the strength to speak.

They took him to a place where he could rest and then called for the Grand Sorcerer Kelin.

Upon hearing the news, Kelin rushed over and was able to meet Lailakan.

“Lailakan-nim!”

Kelin’s eyes widened in shock at the sight of Lailakan, who looked utterly unrecognizable.

“What on earth happened? I heard you were attacked by demons and went missing…!”

“…”

Lailakan already appeared to be completely exhausted.

When he offered no response, Kelin decided to ask for details later.

“First, let’s get you treated. You seem to have many wounds all over.”

He brought in the wizards who could help and cast recovery magic on Lailakan.

“You’ll feel better in a little while.”

With several wizards, including a grand sorcerer, casting recovery spells, Lailakan’s body was indeed healing rapidly.

“I know that Lailakan, the commander of the knight order, has exceptional recovery abilities. But to be in a state where you can’t recover on your own… what kind of formidable enemy did you face…?”

“It was a terrible battle.”

Only then did Lailakan speak.

“I fought against a being known as the King of Hell.”

“The King of Hell… could it be… the, the Remegaton!?”

“Yes.”

“Then, did you manage to kill him?”

Lailakan shook his head.

“No. I couldn’t kill him. He was not an opponent I could defeat.”

“Then… we must finish your treatment quickly and inform His Majesty that Lailakan-nim has returned.”

As Kelin continued the recovery magic on Lailakan, he noticed something strange.

‘There’s a strong sense of alienation. Is it just my imagination?’

The power he once knew of Lailakan felt absent, replaced by something else within him.

In fact, it was close to demonic energy.

Why on earth is there demonic energy in Lailakan’s body…?

“Leave this to you all. I will go report to His Majesty for a moment.”

Realizing that something was amiss, Kelin planned to seal the area with magic and request help from the Verak Empire.

But Lailakan stopped him.

“Why go yourself when you can just send someone below?”

“Ha ha. I thought it would be better for me to report directly.”

“Stay here. My body hasn’t fully recovered yet. It won’t be too late to go after I finish all the recovery magic.”

“······There’s no need for me to stay. The skills of the children here are quite impressive, so trust them and let them handle it.”

As she spoke and tried to go outside again,

“It seems you’ve caught on after all.”

At the cold voice of Lailakan, Kelin felt a chill run down her spine.

“Ha ha ha. Well, it would be more strange if a great magician didn’t notice.”

“······!”

Kelin quickly threw a binding spell at Lailakan and shouted.

“Everyone, step back!! He is not Lord Lailakan!”

Then they quickly retreated and threw their binding spells as well.

Boom-!!

The binding spells exploded, restraining Lailakan’s body, but the magic emanating from him melted them away in an instant.

Lailakan got up and burst into a sneer.

“Thank you. This body wasn’t responding well, so recovery was slow, but thanks to you, it seems I’ve fully recovered.”

“Who, who are you! Why are you taking the form of Lord Lailakan?”

“What a pity to hear such things. This body is indeed Lailakan. It’s just—”

Whoosh-!!

Before anyone realized how he had moved behind, Lailakan’s arm pierced through Kelin’s back.

“Gah!”

“The soul inside has just changed.”

“K-Kelin!!”

As the magicians tried to cast spells to save Kelin, Lailakan reached his hand forward. The magic emanating from his grasp darkened their bodies.

“Gah!”

“Ugh!”

Lailakan, no. The Terkan who had taken his body wore a very satisfied smile.

“Indeed, the body of the strongest among humans is different. I can use my power without restrictions.”

“Ugh-! Wh-what are you…”

“Oh— you’re still alive, huh?”

Terkan threw Kelin to the ground and stomped on his head.

“I am the king of hell, Terkanada. That foolish Lailakan dared to oppose me and lost his body.”

“What…!”

“Now I will trample you all and build a new world upon it.”

But at those words, Kelin did not cower; instead, he sharpened his resolve.

“It will not go as you wish.”

“What did you say?”

“The king of hell, despite possessing such immense power, attacks from the surroundings instead of going directly to His Majesty Aslan, which means you are ultimately afraid of Him. You have already lost to Him.”

“!?”

Terkanada furrowed his brow and ruthlessly stomped on Kelin’s head.

“How dare you say who fears whom! I am the god of darkness! No one can dare to defeat me!”

“…”

Kelin had no more words.

Because Terkanada had horrifically crushed his head.

“Tsk. How weak.”

Muttering that, he opened the door and stepped outside.

Outside, the knights who had heard the commotion were on high alert.

“L-Lailakan?”

“What on earth happened in there?!”

“That blood…!”

Terkanada chuckled and stretched out his hands.

“If you’re curious, I’ll tell you right now.”

* * *

“What on earth is that?”

“It looks like a door.”

“Isn’t it a trap?”

Should I call it a light that looks like a square door?

The light door on the path past the statue was indeed the door I had been searching for.

I had seen it many times in the game, so there was no doubt about it.

“Your Majesty. What is that?”

“It may be a trap, so please be careful.”

This is not a trap.

That door is a portal to the end of the world.

So you don’t have to think of it as a trap.

“Everyone, stand back.”

I walked slowly toward the door.

Finally, I found it.

The door to the end of the world.

‘Lailakan. Where the hell did that guy go?’

He always clung to the palace like a leech, yet he disappears just when I need him.

I grumbled to myself as I approached the door.

“You all come along too.”

“Yes!”

The moment I stepped forward to take the lead.

“Your Majesty!”

“Your Majesty!!”

The knights called out to me urgently.

Why are they acting like that?

Before I could even question it,

Kwah-ah-ah-!!

The door suddenly twisted like a whirlwind, and in an instant, it began to pull my body inside!

‘Crazy! Could this really be a trap!?’

I couldn’t even think it was a trap because it looked just like the doors I had seen before. The knights rushed to grab me, but it was already too late.

I was swept into that vortex, descending to a bottom I couldn’t even recognize.

“Oh dear…”

The rough whirlwind made my whole body ache.

I frowned and began to look around.

“Where the hell am I again?”

There was nothing in sight.

A dark, gloomy space.

There I was, left all alone.

Chill—

It was a situation that could naturally instill fear.

It would have been better if I could flaunt some bravado at a time like this, but my bravado only activated when someone else was around, so that was out of the question.

I trembled and managed to conjure a flame with my hands.

Only then could I barely make out my surroundings.

“A temple?”

Once the light illuminated the area, I realized this was not a cave, but a temple built for someone.

Tall pillars rose majestically, constructed in a manner reminiscent of the Parthenon.

“I’ve never seen a place like this before.”

I had never encountered a temple of this kind in the game.

“Was it not a trap, but just a portal?”

At first, I thought I had stumbled into a strange trap, but it seemed that was not the case.

Just then.

Boom-!!

The entrance of the temple opened, and a heavy voice echoed from within.

[Who dares to set foot in the space of the divine?]

I swallowed hard at the oppressive, weighty voice.

But just as if it had been waiting for this moment, my bravado surged wildly.

“I am Aslan, the emperor who rules over the continent.”

Without feeling intimidated by the other’s voice, I responded with a dignified tone, as if to overwhelm them.

The other party fell silent for a moment before asking me.

[Are you Aslan?]

“Yes. Who dares to speak before me?”

[I am a servant of the one. Rahal has left me here to fulfill his will.]

“The will of Rahal? What does that mean?”

Then the entrance swung wide open, and the voice spoke to me.

[Come in. I shall show you his will.]

Could it be another trap?

I cautiously stepped inside, keeping my guard up.

Inside the temple stood a colossal statue of Rahal, surrounded by archangels.

[Long ago, He left me here. And He commanded me to deliver His words.]

“To whom do I speak?”

[To you, Aslan. It is you I speak to.]

“······What?”

[You are the chosen hero, selected before this continent was created. He has said that the fate of this continent and the celestial realm rests solely in your hands.]

It was a story I had never heard before.

Could this be some kind of Easter egg hidden by the developers?

[The choice is solely yours. The time of destiny has come, and soon He will come to find you and meet you. And whatever choice you make, you must make a sacrifice.]

“······?”

[Whether to sustain this world or to destroy it. That is solely your choice, Aslan.]

No sooner had the voice ended than a new window appeared before me.

[A new main quest has been triggered.]

[Apocalypse]

-Only you can determine the end of this world.

-Confront Rahal and make the final decision.


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